In Ho Chi Minh City, CHÀO set out to reimagine Vietnamese heritage through a contemporary lens, combining traditional music with modern storytelling, digital visuals, and immersive sound. The show’s concept, developed by Nguyễn Khắc Anh of Ba Sao Investment, required a performance space where the audience and artists shared the same acoustic environment, with no stage monitors or in-ear systems. This unconventional format posed a major technical challenge: how to deliver a clear, multidimensional audio experience while preserving the integrity of live instrumentation and preventing feedback.
HARMAN Professional Solutions, in collaboration with AV integration partner Ba Sao Audio, provided a complete end-to-end immersive audio system featuring brands across its portfolio, including JBL Professional, FLUX::, BSS, Crown, AKG and Soundcraft. A 20.4-channel speaker configuration powered by FLUX:: SPAT Revolution formed the heart of the setup, allowing for detailed spatial placement and movement of audio objects in real time throughout the venue.
“This collaboration has enabled us to create a powerful and engaging experience for audiences,” said Vũ Hữu Thắng, Technical Director, Ba Sao Audio. “Working with HARMAN’s integrated solutions allowed us to meet the technical demands of the production while supporting its creative goals.”
The speaker system included 20 JBL AC18/95 loudspeakers for wide, full-range coverage and four JBL STX818S subwoofers to provide powerful, well-controlled low-end response. Amplification and system control were handled by Crown CDi Drivecore 4|600 and MA9000i amplifiers, while a Soundcraft Vi2000 mixing console and Dante-enabled 64-channel stagebox delivered streamlined mixing and routing. A total of 49 AKG microphones, including the C214, C519M, C411PP and C451B models, were deployed to faithfully capture the tonal detail of over 30 traditional Vietnamese instruments. BSS Soundweb BLU-806 and BLU-BOB2 processors completed the signal path with advanced system tuning and spatial rendering.
The result was a truly immersive performance that enveloped the audience in sound and storytelling. From massive orchestral sweeps to delicate instrumental solos, each audio element was precisely placed and articulated within the venue’s shared space, creating a three-dimensional listening experience that enhanced emotional connection without compromising technical integrity.
“This project exemplifies how our end-to-end solutions can elevate cultural storytelling,” said Amar Subash, VP & GM, Professional Solutions, APAC. “CHÀO is a model for how immersive technologies can preserve and amplify tradition in a way that’s both modern and moving.”
As the first permanent immersive audio deployment of its kind for live theater in the Asia-Pacific region, CHÀO set a new benchmark for cultural production. It demonstrated how cutting-edge AV integration can support heritage preservation through innovation, bridging past and future in a deeply resonant way.
